System and method for shape deformation and force display of devices

• US 8,803,798 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Jiang, Li, Birnbaum, David M., Pieron, Remy, Ullrich, Christopher J., Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, LaCroix, Robert, Grant, Danny A., Modarres, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Sim, Yong H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US12/776,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20100283727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/30 characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Various systems, devices, and methods for shape deformation of a haptic deformation display device are provided. For example, the haptic deformation display device may receive an input signal when the shape of the haptic deformation display device is in a first shape configuration. In response to the input signal, the haptic deformation display device may activate an actuator of the haptic deformation display device. The actuator may move a deformation component of the haptic deformation display device. The deformation component may at least partially defining a shape of the haptic deformation display device, thereby causing the shape of the haptic deformation display device to deform into a second shape configuration different from the first shape configuration. The second shape configuration may be substantially maintained.

Claims

1. A method for deforming a shape of a haptic deformation display device, comprising:

receiving an input signal when the shape of the haptic deformation display device is in a first shape configuration, wherein the haptic deformation display device comprises a top plate;

actuating an actuator in response to the input signal;

moving, by the actuator, an arm coupled to the actuator and a deformation component of the haptic deformation display device according to a first motion,

wherein the deformation component is positioned along a rotation path of the arm and is enclosed within a flexible housing,

wherein the arm moves the deformation component and the flexible housing, the deformation component at least partially defining a shape of the haptic deformation display device, thereby causing the shape of the haptic deformation display device to deform into a second shape configuration different from the first shape configuration;

moving, by the actuator or another actuator, at least one other arm and at least one other deformation component of the haptic deformation display device according to a second motion, the second motion being different from the first motion;

wherein the top plate is positioned above both the deformation component and the at least one other deformation component and protects an inner portion of the haptic deformation display device upon deformation; and

substantially maintaining the second shape configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the arm is moved by rotating the arm, the rotation causing the arm to move the deformation component.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said rotating the arm is based on one or more rotation parameters that specify rotation of the arm.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the rotation parameters include one or more of:

a speed, a magnitude, a torque, or a rotational angle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a shape of the arm defines the movement of the deformation component.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

actuating the actuator at a plurality of intervals, thereby causing the shape of the haptic deformation display device to deform at each interval.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first motion and the second motion are different based on a speed or an angle in which the deformation component and the at least one other deformation component are moved.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first motion and the second motion at least partially generate a waveform effect.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the device is communicably coupled to at least one other device, and wherein the received input signal originates from the at least one other device such that the at least one other device causes the device to deform into the second shape configuration.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one other device is at least one or more of:

a computing device executing an application, a second haptic deformation display device, and a cellular device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the device includes at least one sensor, the method further comprising:

receiving a sensory input from the at least one sensor, wherein the received input signal is based on the sensory input.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensory input originates from at least one of:

a user of the haptic deformation display device and at least one other device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the actuator includes the at least one sensor.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting the sensory input to at least one other device.

15. A haptic deformation display device, comprising:

an actuator;

a deformation component at least partially defining a shape of the haptic deformation device;

a top plate;

an arm coupled to the actuator and the deformation component, wherein the deformation component is positioned along a rotation path of the arm and is enclosed within a flexible housing; and

at least one processor configured to;

receive an input signal when the shape of the haptic deformation display device is in a first shape configuration; and

cause the actuator to actuate in response to the input signal,

wherein the actuator is configured to move the arm according to a first motion, wherein the movement of the arm is further configured to move the deformation component and the flexible housing to cause the shape of the haptic deformation display device to deform into a second shape configuration different from the first shape configuration,

wherein the actuator, or another actuator, is further configured to move at least one other arm according to a second motion, the second motion being different from the first motion, wherein the movement of the at least one other arm is further configured to move at least one other deformation component;

wherein the actuator substantially maintains the second shape configuration, and

wherein the top plate is positioned above both the deformation component and the at least one other deformation component and protects an inner portion of the haptic deformation display device upon deformation.

16. The haptic deformation display device of claim 15, wherein the arm is moved by rotation of the arm, the rotation causing the arm to move the deformation component.

17. The haptic deformation display device of claim 16, wherein said rotation of the arm is based on one or more rotation parameters that specify rotation of the arm.

18. The haptic deformation display device of claim 17, wherein the rotation parameters include one or more of:

a speed, a magnitude, a torque, or a rotational angle.

19. The haptic deformation display device of claim 15, wherein a shape of the arm defines the movement of the deformation component.

20. The haptic deformation display device of claim 15, the processor further configured to:

activate the actuator at a plurality of intervals, thereby causing the shape of the haptic deformation display device to deform at each interval.

21. The haptic deformation display device of claim 15, wherein the first motion and the second motion are different based on a speed or an angle in which the deformation component and the at least one other deformation component are moved.

22. The haptic deformation display device of claim 21, wherein the first motion and the second motion at least partially generate a waveform effect.

23. The haptic deformation display device of claim 22, wherein the haptic deformation display device is communicably coupled to at least one other device, and wherein the received input signal originates from the at least one other device such that the at least one other device causes the device to deform into the second shape configuration.

24. The haptic deformation display device of claim 23, wherein the at least one other device is at least one or more of:

a computing device executing an application, a second haptic deformation display device, and a cellular device.

25. The haptic deformation display device of claim 22, wherein the haptic deformation display device includes at least one sensor, the processor further configured to:

receive a sensory input from the at least one sensor, wherein the received input signal is based on the sensory input.

26. The haptic deformation display device of claim 25, wherein the sensory input originates from at least one of:

a user of the haptic deformation display device and at least one other device.

27. The haptic deformation display device of claim 25, wherein the actuator includes the at least one sensor.

28. The haptic deformation display device of claim 25, the at least one sensor further configured to:

cause the sensory input to be transmitted to at least one other device.